Historical Disputes Between French Team and Pure Shooters: An Overview

French U18 Team's Shooting Struggles: A Persistent Conundrum

The French U18 team's shooting woes have been a topic of discussion, particularly their tendency to miss shots from outside. Romain Leroy, the assistant coach, has raised questions about the root cause of this issue - whether it's the team's style of play or a lack of development of pure shooters as high-level players.

This issue was evident in the team's game at Euro 2013, where they made less than one three-point shot per three, with a 32% success rate, placing them 15th out of 24 teams. Despite this, they managed to win their only title. In the same match, they attempted 17 out of 21 three-pointers.

The team's preference for dribbling and shot creation over catch & shoot or passes is a characteristic of their play style. This approach, some argue, has made their game resemble a caricature of its major players. However, the strong influence of the NBA and the high athletic potential of French athletes could be contributing factors.

The absence of consistent sharpshooters who can break a zone or strike at crucial moments was noticeable in the eighth-final exit. Potential players like Wembanyama and Sarr, who could have provided additional options, were also not available.

The team's reliance on three-point shots is not explained by their shooting accuracy. Instead, it seems to be a strategic choice. The French team at the current Euro did not field players regarded as pure "goal scorers" because their tactical setup focused more on team play, versatility, and collective goal efforts rather than relying on a single designated top scorer.

This approach aligns with modern French squad strategies emphasizing balanced offensive roles over individual striking specialists. Players like Hifi and Elie Okobo, for example, are scorers rather than shooters, integrating shooting into a broader scoring role.

In contrast, the player considered today as the number one French shooter in history, Herve Dubuisson, was a pure scorer. The current team's lack of such players is a stark contrast to the past.

Andreas Obst, a starter with the reigning world champion Germany, takes 88% of his three-point shots with a high success rate. This highlights the potential impact a consistent sharpshooter could have on the French team's game.

Frederic Fauthoux, the coach of the French team, had only one interior player capable of moving away (Yabusele) during the match against Georgia. The absence of Nadir Hifi, who did not play in the round of 16 match against Georgia, further compounded the team's shooting issues.

As the French U18 team looks to improve their shooting, it's clear that a reevaluation of their play style and a focus on developing pure shooters could be key to their success.